Fem van Empel to show off Cyclocross World Champions jersey in native Netherlands for first time at Nacht van Woerden

For the first time since being crowned Cyclocross World Champion all the way back in February, Fem van Empel will wear the rainbow stripes in her homeland on Tuesday at Nacht van Woerden.

"The organization is happy with this absolute world champion in women's cyclocross," the delighted race organisers have responded to the news in a press release. "With the arrival of Van Empel, both the number one for women and men, Laurens Sweeck, of the UCI Ranking, will be at the start. This is guaranteed to be a spectacle."

Since becoming World Champion, van Empel finished the 22/23 cyclocross campaign riding outside the Netherlands. In her two cyclocross races so far this season however, she has a perfect two-for-two record, including the UCI World Cup opener last weekend in Waterloo.

In addition to Van Empel, the likes prodigious talent Zoe Bäckstedt, European junior champion Lauren Molengraaf, Laura Verdonschot, Anna Kay and Inge van der Heijden are participating in the ladies, surely making for an exciting race.